Michigan Briefs

September 26, 2006|Staff Reports

NILES

New Fifth Third Bank opens in Niles

A grand-opening ceremony is planned for Thursday at the new Fifth Third Bank Bertrand Banking Center, 2753 S. 11th St. A ribbon cutting will take place between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the bank in the Rural King parking lot next to Campbell Ford. Refreshments will be served. A free lunch also will be offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. NILES

Supervisor appointed in Milton Township

Milton Township has a new supervisor. Milton Township Clerk Jacqueline Boggs said Monday that the Township Board had decided at a meeting last week to appoint Richard Gerbeth to fill the supervisor post formerly held by Tim Whitfield. Gerbeth is a former township clerk and former deputy supervisor, Boggs said. She said Whitfield resigned in August after he moved from Milton to Niles Township, the clerk reported. Gerbeth will fill out the remainder of Whitfield's term, which runs through the end of 2008. He'd have to run in that year's general and primary elections, if a primary is required, if he decides to retain the seat. CASSOPOLIS

Meth maker gets nearly 4-year term

A 50-year-old Marcellus man convicted of making methamphetamine in a home was sentenced Friday to nearly four years in prison. Garrett Hamminga Jr., of the 13900 block of Gooding St., was sentenced to two years for having a firearm and will serve another 21 months up to 25 years for creating a meth lab inside a bedroom of his Marcellus home. When the Cass County Drug Enforcement team raided the house Feb. 16, they found two young children watching TV near a loaded shotgun and rifle perched next to a sofa, according to the Cass County Prosecutor's Office. Hamminga was in a bedroom cooking meth, authorities said. He was charged with maintaining a meth lab involving a firearm and felony firearm. Tyfanni Hosler, the mother of the two children, pleaded guilty to attempted child abuse third degree and use of methamphetamine and received 45 days in jail. DOWAGIAC

Club to host meeting on millage request

A meeting Wednesday of the Cass County Democracy Club will feature discussion on the upcoming millage request to help fund Cass County parks. The meeting is planned for 7:30 p.m. at the Round Oak Restaurant in downtown Dowagiac. On hand to discuss the request will be Cass County Commissioners Johnie Rodebush, Minnie Warren and David Taylor. Voters will be asked on Nov. 7 to approve a 0.5-mill request for three years to operate county parks and to create a pool of funds that would be available to local units of government. The request would cost the owner of a $100,000 house an additional $25 a year.